Deadline for Entries To Be Announced. Due to a challenging legal battle, we have decided to postpone deadline on our contest pending resolution. We will post a new deadline as we are able. In the meantime, please continue to spread the word and work on those art pieces! The dogs need all our talents. Thank you.

Dogs Deserve Better, a non-profit organization dedicated to getting dogs off chains, is accepting entries from artists who are interested in participating in Rattling Chains: An Artistic Expression of Compassion to Benefit Chained Dogs.

Artists, photographers, fine craftsmen/women, musicians, writers, dancers, and videographers are invited to participate. There is no fee to submit work for consideration. All entries must be submitted through our website to be considered. Selected entrants will be notified. All pieces in each medium should reflect the theme and belief that Dogs Deserve Better than life on a chain, and portray any area from the extreme feelings of isolation and loneliness on a chain to the elation and joy a dog experiences when he/she is set free. All work accepted into the contest will be posted to receive votes. Each vote will cost a $1 donation benefiting the organization. The piece with the most votes in EACH category wins that category along with 50% of all vote proceeds raised for the category. All art pieces that are eligible for sale will then be auctioned in an online auction. All artists whose submissions are accepted will receive 50% of the sale of their art.

Categories and Guidelines

• Visual Art; drawing, painting, mixed media, sculpture, fabric, printmaking• Photography; original photography, digital illustration• Fine Craft; to include ceramics, fiber, glass, jewelry, wood and mixed media• Music; original music and lyrics only; works will not be auctioned off but still eligible to receive awards for best in category. Works must be sent on DVD or uploaded through website. • Word; poetry, short story, other literary works; works will not be auctioned off but still eligible to receive awards for best in category. • Videography; narrative, experimental, film art/video art, documentary, animation. Works will not be auctioned off but still eligible to receive awards for best in category. Videos should not exceed 10 minutes in length, including credits. Works must be sent on DVD or uploaded to website. • Dance; original, solo or team dances dedicated to the chained dog. Works will not be auctioned off, but still eligible to receive awards for best in category.

Teen category (age 13-17) Separate awards will be given for teens age 13-17 in each category listed above.Kids category (age 7-12) Separate awards will be given for kids age 7-12 in each category listed above.

Entry Form: All submissions must include a completed Entry Form and Release & Agreement, below. If you are under 18, consent from a parent, guardian or teacher is required as well at time of submission. There is no entry fee.

Limit: 2 entries per artist.

Deadline: Submissions must be received by {To Be Announced. Currently Accepting Ongoing Submissions}. If accepted, visual art and photography pieces must be mailed to the organization for subsequent sale after the voting period. Voting period will commence TBA, and end one month later on TBA.

Submit through our website at http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org/rattlingchains.html

Do not submit original artwork during this phase (for visual arts and photography only). Please provide digital images, in the cases of visual art or photography; MP3 or WMV files of your music or video in .mov or similar format. Video and music that is too large to upload may be mailed to DDB, 1915 Moonlight Rd., Smithfield, VA 23430. You will be notified if your submission has been accepted.

Submitted artwork must be accompanied by the following:
Full Name
Full Address
Phone
Email
Website (if applicable)
A description of each piece, including title, medium, size
A short bio, resume or C.V. and any relevant press material
An artist’s statement